Color perception in pediatric patient room design: healthy children vs. pediatric patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of color as a component of a healing environment for pediatric patient rooms. Color preferences from pediatric inpatient, pediatric outpatient, and healthy children groups were investigated and compared for group and gender differences.

Positive environmental stimulation can promote patient well-being by reducing stress or negative feelings. If environmental colors can have positive influences, then those colors will make patients more comfortable, reducing their stress. Although previous color studies are suggestive, none has focused on pediatric healthcare environments. Patients' health status may affect their reaction to environmental stimulation. There was a gap in the body of knowledge regarding the consistency of color preferences with regard to patient health status.

A simulation method was used because of its reliability and feasibility. It allowed for investigating the value of color in real contexts and controlling confounding variables. Previous color preference studies typically have been done with small colored squares of paper, which are visually different from seeing a color applied on wall surfaces. In addition, they failed to control confounding variables such as color attributes and light sources.

Group differences were not significant. This refuted the hypothesis that the color preferences of pediatric patients are different from those of healthy children. However, overall color preferences showed that the healthy children group had higher mean scores of color preferences than both pediatric outpatients and inpatients groups. Gender effects were identified across all three groups.

All three groups showed similar color preference patterns, except for yellow. Both pediatric outpatients and inpatients preferred yellow less than healthy children did. Healthy children's mean scores of color preferences were higher than the pediatric outpatients; the pediatric outpatients group had higher mean scores of color preferences than the pediatric inpatients group. Although this observation was not statistically significant, it raised the question of whether the sickest pediatric patients respond differently to color than healthy children do. Gender effects indicated that girls preferred red and purple more than boys do. Regardless of gender effects, healthy children and pediatric patients preferred blue and green the most and white the least. These results can help healthcare providers and professionals better understand appropriate colors for pediatric populations.